10 people rescued from warehouse fire in Ubi

PHOTO: The Straits Times

A fire broke out in a warehouse in the industrial area of Ubi yesterday evening, sending thick, black smoke billowing into the already- hazy skies for more than three hours.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force was informed of the fire at 5.34pm. Firefighters arrived at Block 3019 in Ubi Road 1 eight minutes later to see two units engulfed in flames, one on the ground floor and the other directly above it.

Firefighters, battling poor visibility from the smoke that enveloped the whole building, rescued 10 people from the four-storey block, including a man who was trapped in a cargo lift.

A woman, who suffered from smoke inhalation, and a firefighter, who was hit by heat exhaustion, were sent to Changi General Hospital.

Three fire engines, two red rhinos, two fire bikes, six supporting vehicles, two ambulances and two unmanned firefighting machines were dispatched.

When The Straits Times arrived at the scene at 8pm, firefighters were spraying jets of water into the building and plumes of smoke were still rising from the units.

A group of more than 20 bystanders had gathered across the road to observe the operation, some whipping out their mobile phones to take photos and videos.

Among them was construction worker Robal Md Rahul Amin, 25. He was at work one street away when he noticed the fire at around 6pm. "The fire wasn't so big at first, but then it spread from one side to the other side and got worse," he said.

Another construction worker, Mr Abul Kalam Azad, 30, was on his way back to his dormitory in Kaki Bukit at 8pm when he saw the smoke.

"I have worked in Singapore for nine years, but this is my first time seeing something like this," he said.

Slightly before 9pm, the SCDF said the fire was under control.

mellinjm@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on September 15, 2015. Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.